LIZ DAVIDSON, PRINCIPAL CITY DESIGNLIZ DAVIDSON, PRINCIPAL CITY DESIGN

Glasgow City CouncilGlasgow City Council

Putting a Putting a

Value on PlaceValue on Place

Built Environment Forum Scotland Built Environment Forum Scotland Conference 21Conference 21stst Nov 2012 Nov 2012

LIZ DAVIDSON, PROJECT DIRECTORLIZ DAVIDSON, PROJECT DIRECTOR

GlasgowGlasgowMERCHANT CITY INITIATIVEMERCHANT CITY INITIATIVE

Is there a future for the High Street?Is there a future for the High Street?

Where have we come from?Where have we come from?

Where are we now?Where are we now?

Where have we tried to make it better?Where have we tried to make it better?

Where do we go next?Where do we go next?

…….. Can we put a value on place?.. Can we put a value on place?

… … a “traditional” retail street 1n the 1930’sa “traditional” retail street 1n the 1930’s

Tobacco Grocer Butcher Sweets Fruit Chemist Hardware Store Fishmonger

Multiples and chain stores..

Where are we now?.....

Ill or very sick indeed……?Ill or very sick indeed……?The Guardian Monday 13The Guardian Monday 13thth February 2012 February 2012

Is the UK high street facing an inevitable ‘ Is the UK high street facing an inevitable ‘ deathdeath spiral‘ ? spiral‘ ?

The Independent Thursday 01 November 2012The Independent Thursday 01 November 2012

Another day, another Another day, another deathdeath on the high street as investors pull the plug on Comet on the high street as investors pull the plug on Comet

Mail On Line 6th February 2012Mail On Line 6th February 2012

DyingDying high streets where up to a third of shops are empty high streets where up to a third of shops are empty

The Guardian website October 2012The Guardian website October 2012

Town Centres – who killed the High Street?Town Centres – who killed the High Street?

Ultimately the British High Street Ultimately the British High Street diesdies of neglect with no agency willing to map out a of neglect with no agency willing to map out a different future for itdifferent future for it

Financial Times February 7, 2012 7:44 pmFinancial Times February 7, 2012 7:44 pm

Time to let the British high street Time to let the British high street diedie There is a romantic notion that Britain’s heart lies in its local high There is a romantic notion that Britain’s heart lies in its local high

streets, but like most romances, it exists heavier in the mind of one lover streets, but like most romances, it exists heavier in the mind of one lover than the other… The consumer has rejected its high street paramour.than the other… The consumer has rejected its high street paramour.

Jilted….Jilted….

““Price, value and special offers are at the fore of the shopper’s Price, value and special offers are at the fore of the shopper’s mind, increasingly so in worsening economic times. This combination mind, increasingly so in worsening economic times. This combination can only be provided by large format retailers in central can only be provided by large format retailers in central locations. locations.

The consumer has shifted, en masse, to shopping centres, major high The consumer has shifted, en masse, to shopping centres, major high streets and retail parks where international retailers with streets and retail parks where international retailers with efficient sourcing and costs do battle with each other to offer the efficient sourcing and costs do battle with each other to offer the consumer ever-increasing value. And this is the way it should be. consumer ever-increasing value. And this is the way it should be.

The general consumer cares little for heritage or for the The general consumer cares little for heritage or for the sentimental argument. If it is cheaper, they will buy it, and they sentimental argument. If it is cheaper, they will buy it, and they are right to”.are right to”.

Financial TimesFinancial Times February 2012February 2012

Where we have tried to make it better….

Repair of Historic Fabric

retail makeovers……retail makeovers……Re-instatement of Architectural Detail

Social enterprises ….. The future?

Where do we go next ?Where do we go next ?

K‘A land full of places that are not worth caring about will soon be a nation and a way of life that is not worth defending’.

James Howard Kunstler : The Geography of Nowhere

Playing to your Playing to your strengths ….strengths ….

Setting out your Setting out your stallstall

Appealing to the senses Appealing to the senses and the sentiments…and the sentiments…

Creating space to Creating space to experimentexperiment

……and bringing the and bringing the outside world in…..outside world in…..

Meanwhile space ……

Who pays for public realm……?

.. as if it has always been there….. as if it has always been there…

A natural A natural order…order…

What makes the perfect What makes the perfect street?street?

► BAKERY BAKERY FLORISTFLORIST ELECTRICAL ELECTRICAL CHEMIST CHEMIST BUTCHERBUTCHER BOOKSHOPBOOKSHOP RESTAURANT RESTAURANT DENTIST DENTIST SHOES SHOES HARDWAREHARDWARE PUB PUB DOCTORSDOCTORS TATOOS & PIERCINGSTATOOS & PIERCINGS ART ART

GALLERYGALLERY CHIROPODISTCHIROPODIST GROCER GROCER CRAFT SHOPCRAFT SHOP WHOLEFOODSWHOLEFOODS VET VET BANKBANK COOKERY SHOPCOOKERY SHOP PET SHOPPET SHOP FISH & CHIPSFISH & CHIPS DELICATESSENDELICATESSEN ESTATE AGENTESTATE AGENT CAFÉ CAFÉ CLOTHESCLOTHES SWEET SHOPSWEET SHOP JUNK SHOPJUNK SHOP GARDENING STOREGARDENING STORE CHARITY SHOP CHARITY SHOP ART STUDIOSART STUDIOS NEWSAGENT NEWSAGENT POST OFFICEPOST OFFICE SUPERMARKET SUPERMARKET FISHMONGERSFISHMONGERS TOOL SHOPTOOL SHOP CAKES & CAKES & PATTISERIEPATTISERIE SPORTS SHOPSPORTS SHOP CYCLE SHOPCYCLE SHOP FRUIT SHOPFRUIT SHOP NEWSAGENT NEWSAGENT LOCKSMITH LOCKSMITH JEWELLERYJEWELLERY DECORATING DECORATING IINTERIORSNTERIORS FURNITUREFURNITURE VINTAGE SHOPVINTAGE SHOP ANTIQUESANTIQUES OPTICIANOPTICIAN MUSIC STUDIOS & STORESMUSIC STUDIOS & STORES GIFTSGIFTS FASHION FASHION HAIRDRESSERHAIRDRESSER BUILDING SOCIETYBUILDING SOCIETY OUTDOOR SHOPOUTDOOR SHOP

► 5555 SHOPS SHOPS

Financial Times February 7, 2012 7:44 pmFinancial Times February 7, 2012 7:44 pm

Time to let the British high street Time to let the British high street diedie There is a romantic notion that There is a romantic notion that Britain’s heart lies in its local Britain’s heart lies in its local high streets, but like most romances, high streets, but like most romances, it exists heavier in the mind of one it exists heavier in the mind of one lover than the other… The consumer lover than the other… The consumer has rejected its high street has rejected its high street paramour.paramour.